Gardeners: A question about sprouting seeds...

[Anonymous]

…or rather, one sprouting seed.

Get ready for the most ridiculous post ever.

When we moved to DC, I brought some heirloom sweet pea seeds from our garden in California. So they are a little sentimental. Well, I put them all in those jiffy pots in one of those seed starter kits and I think it was too wet; some looked like they were just molding over. Darn. So I took the top off and kept it damp, just in case some of the seeds would have survived.

And one did. Just one. I got so excited. I showed the kids. No touching; we've got to get it past one tiny stalk.

Then along comes the pet bird.

Yup. Bit off and ate the tip.

So I've got this stalk, that for 4 days now, just sits there, green still, but not doing anything. I'm keeping it damp. I'm under the impression that without the tip, it won't grow and it's stuck in stasis. Is that correct or is there still hope?

[Anonymous]

I'm no expert but I would give it more time. As long as the root system is I damaged it might come back.

And this is reason number 287 why I don't get why people keep birds as pets.

[Anonymous]

How many leaves did it have? Did it have just its seedling leaves, or did it already have its true leaves?

If it just had its seedling leaves, it's doomed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many leaves did it have? Did it have just its seedling leaves, or did it already have its true leaves?

If it just had its seedling leaves, it's doomed.

Yep. Just the seedling leaves. They weren't even open yet. Darn bird (and of course, my fault; I forgot she was puttering around)

Anyways, I will just continue to take care of it until it withers in case there is a miracle.

Do you know the mechanism for why it's doomed? I'm under the impression the growing "instructions" are in the tip--maybe the growth hormones. Without it, it just sits there.

[Anonymous]

Google "master gardener" and where you live--DC, MD, VA.

There are lots of plant clinics--you can go and ask your question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many leaves did it have? Did it have just its seedling leaves, or did it already have its true leaves?

If it just had its seedling leaves, it's doomed.

Yep. Just the seedling leaves. They weren't even open yet. Darn bird (and of course, my fault; I forgot she was puttering around)

Anyways, I will just continue to take care of it until it withers in case there is a miracle.

Do you know the mechanism for why it's doomed? I'm under the impression the growing "instructions" are in the tip--maybe the growth hormones. Without it, it just sits there.

Yes, you're correct that it's doomed because the bird ate the only part of it able to grow. I would be so disappointed.

[Anonymous]

I would be concerned about the bird. Sweet Peas can be toxic, but I'm not sure if that's the case re: birds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be concerned about the bird. Sweet Peas can be toxic, but I'm not sure if that's the case re: birds

you are right about that but it was such a small sprout, and it's been 4 days. That bird has a cast iron stomach. She ate some sewing thread off the spool when she was a chick and I had to pull it out from down her throat…the string kept coming and coming...it was a block long, I am not kidding you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be concerned about the bird. Sweet Peas can be toxic, but I'm not sure if that's the case re: birds

you are right about that but it was such a small sprout, and it's been 4 days. That bird has a cast iron stomach. She ate some sewing thread off the spool when she was a chick and I had to pull it out from down her throat…the string kept coming and coming...it was a block long, I am not kidding you!

I"m glad she's fine! God bless ya - all that thread So sweet!! You're a good bird parent!

[Anonymous]

UPDATE: This morning, my sprout has another stalk coming up--from the same seed! I thought this was impossible. and YES it's out of reach of the bird!

This sprout is going to be guarded better than Fort Knox!

(and yes I know this is a stupid trivial post, LOL. Just missing my CA home, so it's nice to have a little plant from my CA backyard in my house here)